10-11 Dec 1941
Jpn ships sunk:
CM:1
SC:1
xAK:1
AG:1
Allied ships sunk:
DD:1
AV:1 (Langley)
CM:1
TK:1
xAP:2 (small)
xAK: 2
xAKL:1
Air loss:
Jpn: 17
Allied: 13
Subwar:
Jpn: 1xAttack: no hits
Allies: 11xAttack: 2xships hit and both sunk (xAK, AG)
Amph Inv:
Aparri (PI)
Balabac (PI)
Guam (CENPAC)
Kudat (DEI)
Laoag (PI) - Airborne assault
Bases lost:
Jolo (PI)
Laoag (PI)
Kota Bharu (Malaya)
Pengpu (China)
With the exception of the “Battle for the Exodus”, the flight of shipping from the PI, a fairly quiet two days. Focus for the Allies remains redeploying assets, preparing bases for either imminent attack or long term use, and striking back with naval/air assets when and where possible. Subs are starting to reach patrol areas and beginning attacks in patrol zones. Despite the synch bug rearing its ugly head, here’s the wrap up:
West Coast’s first reinforcement effort departed LA for the SOPAC, 3xAPs with two Marine Regiments bound for Noumea and Suva, with CV Saratoga TF providing escort against subs and perhaps the two Jpn AMCs lurking in the south Pacific. The first true resupply/reinforcement convoy is forming up in LA, and should depart on the 12th bound for Auckland. B-17s and PBYs begin flying from Frisco to PH.
In NOPAC, the engineer battalion on Kodiak set sail for Adak, and escorts of 1xCL (Detroit) 2xDD enroute from PH along with 2xDD from Seattle. An aviation engineer battalion is being loaded at Annette Is, enroute to Umnak Is. So far, its been quiet; PBYs out of Dutch Harbor have not seen any sign of the Japanese.
In CENPAC, two Jpn TFs are sighted approaching Wake Is from the south by a SB2U which attacks, claiming a hit on a CL. Other than a few subs in the area, Wake is left to its own devices at this point, no CVs coming to the rescue. Big E TF is heading towards Canton Is to provide cover for the Marine Def Bn TF heading out of PH on the 12th. Lexington TF is moving toward Ocean/Naru Is area to strike the Amph TF reported by CA Louisville (which failed to press its attack, and only damaged a DD).
Still quiet in SOPAC and SWPAC. CL Adelaide has reached Kavieng, and 2xCL 1XDD have reached Noumea, bound for Tulagi where they will rendezvous with 2xUS CAs, then head toward Rabaul. Moving to Cairns are an Aus CA and DD which will join 4xUS DDs from the Asian Fleet. With the KB unseen, my guess is that its enroute to Truk and we’ll see a major thrust towards Rabaul and the Solomons - which will make this CA Striking force assembling very ineffective. But if he moves south without the KB in support, we might be able to derail the Express for a bit.
In the Philippines area, the CVL Ryujo and CA TF covering Jolo move to sink fleeing ships from the PI. The CA TF(s) patrol the Macassar Strait to good effect, sinking a number of ships and blocking the passage. The Ryujo, clearly without any torps remaining for its Kates, moves back toward Babeldaob, hitting shipping moving south from the eastern side of Mindanao. Although a few ships are sunk or damaged, many more seem to be slipping through the net. Laoag is the focus on Luzon for heavy Zero flights covering the airborne drop. The landings on Aparri goes in without opposition. On the positive side, no attacks on troops falling back to defensive positions or attacks on airfields. Also, the first two subs transporting supply dock at Bataan, and the first two interisland resupply xAKLs dock at Lucena offloading supplies.
In the China theater, Japanese forces invest Hong Kong which is under heavy aerial bombardment, damaging three xAKs/xAKLs in the port. All other shipping has departed to run the gauntlet to safer havens. 2/3 of the MTBs attempt to make the PI, the remainder patrol waters off Hong Kong looking for nearby prey. Chinese land forces continue to attempt to redeploy to better defensive ground and a squadron of the Flying Tigers arrives in Changsa.
In Malaya, The withdraw towards positions at the southern end of the peninsula continues without major interference. Japanese air focused in the north, at Georgeotown and Alor Star, and supporting their successful attack at Kota Bharu. The 15th Indian Bde was moving south a bit too slow, and looks like it may be trapped up in Alor Star, the rest of the forces having moved south. While the majority of Commonwealth Forces look to have successfully redeployed, three large Jpn TFs have been sighted in the South China Sea heading due west - assume for now they are heading for Kuantan, but that’s a guess - Singapore air hasn’t been hit, let alone reduced enough to try Mersing, right?
In the DEI, things should heat up quickly. As shipping from the PI moves south, English, American and Dutch warships head north to locate and strike back at the enemy. In the Makassar Straits, the US CA TF (CA, 2xCL, 5xDD) under Adm Shalfroth and Force Z (BB, BC, 3xCL, 8xDD) under Adm Palliser head north toward Jolo. Shalfroth to sink shipping, and Palliser to bombard the airfield. This is a risk, and I’m counting on getting through before Jolo can be fully functional. East of Celebes, Doorman’s TF (2xCL, 5xDD) heads to Manado which has a large Amph TF approaching. On Borneo’s northwest side, 2xDD from the PI currently just arriving at Brunei will interdict the Amph TF approaching Miri as they attempt to make for Java. These two DDs were to be joined by the 2xDD from Hong Kong, but the Brit DDs ran into the CL Sendai and DDs in the South China Sea - losing one DD and heavily damaging another for no reported gain. Lastly, 3xPTs from Manila currently at Puerto Princessa will hit the Japanese at Kudat enroute to Jesselton and hopefully then on to Kuching and Java. Airpower to support these multiple operations will be minimal, with B-17s from Cagayan hitting Jolo and Buffaloes out of Balikpapan providing cover for Force Z while in range. Lots of risk here for this aggressive operation, but with some luck we’ll have some success and keep the enemy off balance - and perhaps a bit cautious in further operations.
